Bernard "Bernie" Francis Curran of Newtown, and previously of Dallas, Texas, and Chappaqua, N.Y., died May 15, with a large contingent of family by his side, after a five-year battle with lymphoma. He was born August 1, 1929, in West Orange, N.J., eldest son of the late Jean (Monaghan) and Bernard H. Curran.

To be clear, the cancer did not define him. Rather, it was the powerful mark he left on all who knew him as husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather, mentor, coach, manager, volunteer, and all-around great role model. His strong faith and love of family was paramount in everything he did, and those that had the good fortune of knowing him will remember him for his caring, thoughtful, and considerate nature.

His brother, Honorable Robert W. Curran, and wife Nancy; his wife Mary Korth Curran; and their combined 15 children and stepchildren and their spouses: Jim and Margaret Curran, Bill and Noni Curran, Ed and Susan Curran, Kathy and Patrick Collins, Dave and Judy Curran, John and Lori Curran, Mike Curran and Greg Goss, Patrick and Kelly Curran, Katherine and Eric Dehais, Ellen and Frank Skrelja, James Korth, Victoria Korth and Alex Ceres, Jerome Korth, Jr, Marian and Richard Mullaney, and William and Caroline Korth; 37 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and countless nieces and nephews survive him.

His sister, Sr Mary Bernard, OP; son Thomas Martin Curran; daughter Mary Theresa Curran; first wife Mary Margaret "Peggy" King Curran; and stepdaughter Madelyn Korth Blind predeceased him.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted on Saturday, June 17, at 10 am, at St Rose of Lima Church, 46 Church Hill Road, Newtown. Following the mass all are invited to a reception in Holy Innocent's Hall on the opposite end of the parking lot from the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy at parentprojectmd.org/komd, to help support Mr Curran's great-grandson, Conner Curran, and his fight against Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

The Honan Funeral Home, Newtown, is serving the family.